Victoria Schlesinger

1 month ago | baynature.org | Victoria Schlesinger

Now is the time for heroes. And this year, as in the previous 14, Bay Nature will honor a handful of individuals who inspire us and others through their exceptional environmental work in the Bay Area. The point of our Local Hero Awards has long been to remind and reinforce that the neighbors, colleagues, and people we pass on the trail may all be heroes.

Nov 5, 2024 | baynature.org | Victoria Schlesinger

Sonoma County environmental educator and community activist Omar Gallardo passed away after a three-year fight with ALS on October 23, 2024, according to The Press Democrat. The following profile of Gallardo, by Guananí Gómez-Van Cortright, was first published in the spring of 2023, when he was honored with Bay Nature’s Community Hero award. Our hearts are with his family, community, and the lands he cherished.

Jun 20, 2024 | baynature.org | Victoria Schlesinger

A year ago, Bay Nature launched a reporting project that we’ve dubbed “Wild Billions” to follow federal money flowing into the greater Bay Area for nature-based projects. No doubt you’ve noticed our flashy project logo. As of May 2024, roughly $1.2 billion has been allocated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to the slice of projects we’re following.

Mar 21, 2024 | baynature.org | Victoria Schlesinger

Fallen oak branches, tangles of dense undergrowth, heaps of eucalyptus bark, and packed stands of fir trees cover thousands of acres of public land in the East Bay. Scrambling to lessen the risk of wildfire and clear overgrowth, park agencies and public utilities are contracting help. And Naji Lockett is a hot commodity in that market.

Feb 21, 2024 | baynature.org | Victoria Schlesinger

We’ve got a glass globe that will hold the hummers’ sugar water. An old nylon stocking cut off at the knee, stuffed full with thistle seeds and pierced through by a knobbly twig that’s meant for perching. A brick of suet. And a robin’s-egg-blue ceramic birdbath—something I picked up years ago at a garage sale—now nestled at the base of the little tree holding our makeshift bird feeders.